My parents had been unable to keep up with everything that had needed doing. Just the normal wear and tear and normal attrition had taken their toll o...n equipment and the entire farm infrastructure.Anita seemed to have a nearly limitless panoply of cousins who lived nearby, and were somehow always free to come out to the farm to provide whatever expertise I needed.Theresa and Anita had moved into the trailer while Lupe and Maria made their annual pilgrimage back to the old country. The next day. The meals were nutritious, but not always tasty. The nights were cold and he found that he was loosing weight since his body was trying to accommodate the changes in weather.Dante hadn’t tried to fit in with the men and women in the Homeless Hotel. Most of the time was spent sitting on a railroad tie thinking about his commission, but he didn’t do anything about it. The only time he wasn’t on the railroad tie was when he was doing some odd job around the Homeless Hotel to earn his food for the. I promise to never do anything like that again. I swear."Trying to lighten the mood a little I said, "I don't know; I was just beginning to enjoy it. Just promise me that you will never do it in anger."Rolling over and taking me with her, she wrapped her arms around me, hugged me and said, "I promise."Then we both shut our eyes and fell asleep.Several months later, I was in the office reviewing a financial statement that one of the juniors had prepared for one of my clients. After reviewing the. As I got to the floor below the foundations department, what they calledthe intimate apparel department back in the old days, I was dawdling as adelaying tactic. I dared myself because I somehow had to force myself tocontinue. I even made up imaginary punishments if I fail.Sooner than I would have liked I found the escalator going to the topfloor. I started my habitual countdown. I used to count up but then as Igot closer to the goal I would increase the number. A count down had aninevitable.